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Architectural forms as complex as snowflakes? Here’s what they look like up close

Architect Michael Hansmeyer is not one for the T-square. As he explains in a fascinating talk from TEDGlobal, this “computational” designer took inspiration from nature — specifically from morphogenesis, aka the splitting of cells — and created algorithms that help him design highly unusual shapes. Instead of the same old boring Doric, Ionic and Corinthian columns that have been around since ancient Greece, Hansmeyer’s columns contain fascinating folds, curves and cuts — more akin to the snowflakes you made in elementary school than to traditional architectural forms.

And yes, Hansmeyer actually builds these works — in fact, the column to the left was on display at TEDGlobal 2012. Check it out above.

Below, more of Hansmeyer’s out of the box every-shape-we-know creations.